In 2007, more than 70,000 pedestrians were injured in the United States. Of those injured, 14,000 were 14 years old or younger. In that same year, 4,654 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents. At least 306 of them were children age 14 or younger. This amounts to 30% of all traffic fatalities involving children are under the age of 15 years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than one-fifth of children between the ages of five and nine who were killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians at the time of the accident. Approximately 19% of children involved in traffic fatalities under age 16 were pedestrians, and 8% of all children under age 16 injured in a car accident were pedestrians. For pedestrian fatalities involving children under age 16, approximately 45% were killed between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

On a national level, 49% of fatal accidents occur on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The most dangerous days of the year are New Year's Day and Halloween. The total cost of pedestrian death and injury cases involving children is at least $5.2 billion per year.

Studies show that by three years of age, boys outnumber girls in non-fatal pedestrian injuries and in fatal pedestrian accidents by a margin of almost two to one. Many of the injuries to toddlers and preschoolers are considered "non-traffic." That is, these accidents mostly occur in places like driveways and parking lots instead of public roadways or thoroughfares. Nearly half of all pedestrian accidents involving children between the ages of one and four occur when a vehicle is backing up in the driveway. The NHTSA estimates that, on average, 292 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur each year as a result of back-over accidents. For children, this works out to 50 injured or killed per week. Research has shown that children in this age range are simply too young to understand the dangers posed by a moving vehicle.

To combat the rising death toll of children in back-over accidents, Congress recently enacted the Cameron Guibransen Act. The Act was named for a two-year-old who was killed when an SUV inadvertently backed over him because the vehicle's blind spot made it virtually impossible for the driver to see him. The Act directs the United States Department of Transportation to adopt new safety standards for all vehicles to promote development of technology to prevent injury and death to children caused by back-over accidents. The NHTSA has recommended that all vehicles sold in the United States by 2014 have technology (e.g., rear video cameras) to eliminate these deadly accidents.

The risks for school-age children of getting hit by a moving vehicle are different from those for toddlers. Children under the age of 10 years still need supervision when crossing the street. Oftentimes, a school-age child will forget about vehicles traveling in the street and dart out suddenly and without warning. Many pedestrian accidents involving school-age children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old occur in the morning and afternoon, and at times when children are typically at play.

Statute Of Limitations

The Statute of Limitations (SOL) is a law that sets a strict limit on the amount of time that an accident victim has to file a legal claim or action in order to recover financial compensation for their injuries, lost wages, medical bills, etc.

*Davis Law Group has been named Best Injury Law Firmin Washington State by AI Legal Awards andBest Personal Injury Law Firm in Washington State by AI Dispute Resolution Awards both awarded by AI Global Media, publishers of Acquisition International Magazine.

No Attorney-Client Relationship Created by Use of this Website or Associated Forms: There is no attorney-client relationship unless the attorney and the client sign a written fee agreement. This website contains information about the laws impacting injury and wrongful death laws in Washington State. But, legal information is not the same as legal advice (which involves applying laws to particular individuals and organizations and their particular circumstances). Your receipt of information from this website, or your Case Submit or contact with Davis Law Group, P.S., or one of its attorneys or staff, DOES NOT create an attorney-client relationship between you and Davis Law Group. This means Davis Law Group, P.S. is not acting as your attorney unless or until a written fee agreement is signed by the client and the attorney. Although we will review your information and evaluate your potential claim, this does not mean that we have or will agree to represent you. As a matter of policy, Davis Law Group does not accept a new client without first investigating possible conflicts of interests and obtaining a signed contingent fee agreement. Put simply, we are not your law firm until and unless we a-) agree to accept your case; and b-) you formally engage our services by signing a written fee agreement as required by the attorney ethics rules for Washington State.